Friday, March 7, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. ET | Lenovo Center (Raleigh)
WATCH LIVE: FanDuel Sports Network Extra, TSN 4, TSN.ca, TSN App, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
Clay Matvick (Play-by-Play), Alexis Pearson (Analyst), Hanna Yates (Reporter)
OTTAWA CHARGE
7-1-4-8 | 27 PTS | 5TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Emily Clark – 20 GP, 7-7-14 PTS
Last Game: 5-4 OTW vs. NY on Feb. 26
MINNESOTA FROST
6-4-4-7 | 30 PTS | 4TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Kendall Coyne Schofield – 21 GP, 8-10-18 PTS
Last Game: 2-1 SOL at MTL on Mar. 4
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: OTTAWA LEADS 6-3 IN POINTS (MINNESOTA WON 10-5 IN 2024)
Dec. 19 at MIN: 5-2 MIN | Jan. 21 at MIN: 1-0 OTT | Feb. 13 at OTT: 8-3 OTT | Mar. 7 at MIN (RALEIGH) | Mar. 11 at OTT | Apr. 30 at OTT
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Ottawa’s last game against Minnesota was an 8-3 win, the most combined goals in a PWHL game all-time. It is also tied for the largest margin of victory by any PWHL team ever, along with New York’s 5-0 win against Minnesota on Jan. 4, 2025.
The Charge have lost all three of their neutral site games all-time, each by a one-goal margin. This season, Ottawa lost 2-1 to Montréal in Québec City on Jan. 19 and 3-2 in overtime to Toronto in Edmonton on Feb. 16. Last season they suffered a 2-1 shootout loss to Boston in Detroit. The Sirens are the only other PWHL team that has yet to win one in their franchise’s history (0-1).
Ottawa is returning from a week break rolling on a season-high five-game point streak where they collected 10 of a possible 15 points with two regulations win, one overtime victory and two overtime losses.
Gabbie Hughes, recently named PWHL Second Star of the Week, scored multiple goals in her last game against New York, including the OT winner. She has five goals over her last five games after not having a single one through 14 games this season.
Emily Clark is riding a six-game point streak (4G, 5A) and can tie New York’s Alex Carpenter for the PWHL record with a point tonight. Her streak was highlighted by the first three-point game of her career with two goals and an assist against the Victoire on Feb. 22. She was one of five players to record a six-game point streak during the inaugural season.
Tereza Vanišová leads the head-to-head season series with five points (4G, 1A) powered by her hat-trick on Feb. 13, one of three recorded in the league this season. Minnesota’s Claire Thompson (1G, 3A) produced the first of the league’s three four-point performances on Dec. 19.
Carolina Hurricanes’ captain Jordan Staal will visit the Charge dressing room before the game to read the team’s starting lineup with his daughters, Abigail (10) and Lilah (8). The 2009 Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins hails from Thunder Bay, ON, the same hometown as Haley Irwin, Ottawa assistant coach and two-time Olympic gold medalist (Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014). Haley played hockey with and against Jordan during their minor hockey years.
Minnesota won its first Takeover game this season on Jan. 12, 4-2 against the Victoire in Denver. The Frost are looking to join Boston (two) and Montréal (two) as the only teams with multiple such victories in 2025.
The Frost lost in a shootout on Tuesday against the Victoire, their eighth game this season that was decided after regulation. That is tied for the most in a single campaign by any PWHL team, along with Boston (this season) and Montréal (last season).
Taylor Heise scored the lone goal for Minnesota against Montréal, her fifth of the season. She is the only PWHL player this season to have at least five goals, 10 assists and 150 faceoffs won.
Minnesota leads the PWHL with six skaters named to the U.S. Women’s National Team for the upcoming IIHF Women’s World Championship in Czechia, notably defender Lee Stecklein who returns to the National Team for the first time since 2023. She joins forwards Kendall Coyne Schofield, Britta Curl-Salemme, Kelly Pannek, Grace Zumwinkle and Heise. Ottawa is represented by rookie goaltender Gwyneth Philips.
Frost Reserve forward Kaitlyn O’Donohoe, who hails from Myrtle Beach, SC, made history this season becoming the first player from her state to compete in the PWHL. This PWHL has 62 American players (MIN-19 / OTT-7) from 19 different states.
Raleigh native Alyssa Sleasman is a Scouting Consultant for the Frost. She previously organized and led girls' hockey initiatives throughout the Carolinas as the Hurricanes' first-ever Girls' and Women's Youth and Amateur Hockey Specialist from 2019-22 and returned to join the Canes’ coaching staff for the team’s Prospects Development Camp in 2023.
Minnesota will welcome Raleigh native Mary Derrenbacher into the locker room ahead of the game to read the Frost’s starting lineup. Derrenbacher is a two-time member of Team USA’s Under-18 Women’s World Championship roster (2024 Gold and 2025 Silver) and currently attends Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, MN.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“We really liked our momentum in Ottawa before our week break. We have a five-game point streak going. We’ve been able to really start to establish our style of play. We know Minnesota are the Walter Cup champions. They’re an incredible team. I think the folks in Raleigh are really going to get a great competitive game and a hard-fought battle. It always is in this league, so we’re excited to play this game in front of the passionate fans in Raleigh.” – Charge Head Coach Carla MacLeod.
“We had a pretty solid game in Montréal and need to make sure that we take advantage of our opportunities. Ottawa is a tough team and we are both fighting to get points at this time of the year. Raleigh will be a great environment for both teams to showcase their skills.” - Frost Head Coach Ken Klee.
FRIDAY’S GAME: The PWHL Takeover Tour™ Raleigh Presented by Ally is the seventh of nine stops on the tour. Lenovo Center is the 14th NHL venue and 23rd venue overall to host a PWHL game all-time. Tour attendance has totaled 89,953 through six games. Ally has partnered with the PWHL for tonight’s game with a rally towel giveaway, a lucky row contest, dance cam and ‘AthleticALLY Shootout’ during intermission, among their activations. To help celebrate women’s sports in Raleigh, three members of the NWSL’s NC Courage will perform the ceremonial puck drop—Brianna Pinto, Tyler Lussi, and Sydney Collins. The PWHL has partnered with local nonprofits Capital City Crew, Triangle Special Hockey, Carolina Hurricanes Sled Hockey, and InterAct for tonight’s game. The initiative aims to promote gender equity and empower the next generation of leaders by offering access to live women's sports experiences. By partnering with organizations focused on youth development, the PWHL aims to inspire confidence, break barriers, and encourage girls to see themselves in sports, whether as players or leaders.